~Konoha High School Art Club~
7
A Bad Idea
There was a long silence between them. Sasuke and Saseme often ate lunches like this. But her mind was even further else-where than usual...and Sasuke couldn't act like everything was normal anymore. He released a heavy sigh, and laced down his half-empty bento.
"You know how Father is going to react..." he stated, "The longer you remain in that dying club of yours... the more infuriated he is going to be about it." he blinked, "It has no chance...at this point you're wasting both his time, and your own."
"...I refuse to give up on it..." she said softly. Keeping her head down as she picked at her rice and eggs. This was a complicated situation for Sasuke. He didn't want to cut down her sister's passions...but he also didn't like to see her in this state...
Having had yet another arguement with their father about the issue. He hated to see her like this...sad...distant...and with him being absolutely useless to do anything about it...it only made him feel worse. He sighed and placed a large, rough palm on top of her head. His hands were so much bigger now than they used to be...they had cuts, and scars and rough skin, caliced with having handled a tight grip on a wooden sword.
"...You do as you see fit, Sausy." he said to her, "...but at this point...you're really just...prolonging the inevitable." he sighed and leaned forward. After parting her fringe, he gently tapped his forehead to her own and left it to rest there for a while. The sensation was warm...she had to purse her lips hard, to keep from allowing him to see tears.
"Please..." he whispered to her softly, "...Think about what's best." he said, before removing himself and standing. He gripped his black Kendo sword and threw it over his shoulder, leaving her to the roof for a while as he made his way to Kendo Club.
She stood alone on the roof for a while...hooking her fingers through the wiring of the gate while the wind blew threw her thick hair...shadowed over images of her father's disgruntled nature lingering in her memory before heaving a heavy sigh.
"...If I don't hurry now..." she said softly, "...I'm gonna be late."
XXXXX
"Yooooou're LATE~!" Naruto and Gaara beamed as the each pressed a paint covered brush to each side of her face. A new penalty Naruto had started for anyone showing up tardy to art class.
"You know the penalty, Saseme!" Naruto grinned.
But Saseme showed little to know reaction.
"Uhh...hello...Saseme?" he waved his hand, but still she showed no sign of having even taken noticed.
"...I knew this was a bad idea..." Gaara sighed, "...For the record- it was his idea." he said pointing to the blonde next to him.
Naruto twitched.
"I know she was there and all that...but way to toss me under the bus man!" said Naruto.
"Saseme-San...so glad to see you have made it-" Sai froze as he approached the girl at the door and let out a gentle chuckle, "Ahh...you were late so I see..."
"Yeah..." she sighed softly, "Sorry, Sai-Senpai."
"No need." the older male smiled and pulled a kerchief from his jacked pocked as he moved to wipe the smudges off her cheeks, "I saw you with your brother earlier...and you seemed to be in a heated discussion." he said softly, "...So I thought it best not to interrupt."
"With her brother?" Naruto blinked, "You mean THAT'S where she was."
"Well...initially yes." said Gaara, "Sasuke and Saseme do spend a lot of time together...more than you would think." he stated, "And Of course...Sasuke being who he is...he likes to spend that time with Saseme alone." He blinked, "...So I imagine those two probably do have a lot of deep talks, huh?" he pondered, "...I never really took thought to it until now..."
"Even still..." Naruto mumbled, "Doesn't that guy have any respect toward a schedule?"
"...Do YOU have any respect toward a schedule~?" Gaara smirked.
Naruto blushed.
"Th-This isn't about me!"
"HaHaHa." Sai laughed light heartedly efore turning back toward Saseme, "So do tell~" he said, "What was it about this time?"
"Oh...you know." she shrugged, "Just trying to get me to join Kendo club..."
"Again?" Gaara blinked, "I thought you clarified to him that you don't like Kendo?"
"You kow how Sasuke is." she stated softly, "...He's as stubborn as they come." she sighed, "Not that I can say much about that...we come by it honestly."
"In other words...you two bumped heads again?" Gaara probed, and she answered with a shrug...before suddenly, cupping her hands to her face and sobbing hard into them.
"Ahh-!" Sai gasped as she collapsed to her knees to the floor.
"Saseme!" Gaara and Naruto called together, each one kneeling on either side of her, looking to each other in loss and confusion.
XXXXX
"He WHAT!?" Naruto huffed, after Saseme had told him about what Sasuke had said about having her quit the Art Club. As it was nothing more than a wste of her time at this point, "How could he!?" he growled.
"Well Naruto..I hate to say it..." Sai said sadly, "...But Sasuke is not entirely wrong." he stated, "Our Art Club is dying." he sighed, "If we don't get eough members...or at least get sponsored somehow...I'm afraid there will be no Art Club left for us to return to." said Sai, "Why do you think pushed for you to join?" he asked, "This club means a lot to Saseme...and Hinata does her part in whatever she can to help her in any small way she can muster..."
"I don't give a DAMN if he's wrong or right!" Naruto declared, "What RIGHT does he have to tell her what's a waste of her own time!? It's HER time to spend!"
"Naruto..." Gaara blinked.
"Yeah...I get it." said Naruto, "This club is small...and dying." he stated, "I know I was pushed to join in hopes to help keep it running-but dammit I'm part of it too!" he said, "And not a day has passed since I joined that I would have considered this place a waste of time." he stood, "Saseme is here still...knowing all of this...obviously because she cares a lot about it, right!?" he asked, "So if that's the case...then shouldn't that be all the more reason why he should help her support it!?" he asked, " For HER sake!?"
"Naruto, it's not that simple-" Saseme's soft voice was soon interrupted by a loud tapping on the classroom door before being slid open sharply.
"Saseme...We're leaving." said Sasuke. With club time having ended, he was now here to pick her up.
"Ah- Sasuke." Sai blinked as he looked to the clock, "I see...so it's that time already, is it?"
Sasuke bowed politely.
"Sorry to barge in on you so roughly, Senpai." he stated.
"No need." Sai smiled, "I know how worried you can gt about her...she is qite safe though, I assure you~" he chuckled.
Sasuke rose up slowly, a soft smile on his face, until his dark eyes caught a glimpse of Naruto, and his face and entire demeanor plummeted immediately.
"...What are you doing here!?" he huffed.
"Hmph, I'm part of The Art Club- What's it to you!?" Naruto huffed as he folded his arms over his chest, "...Got a problem with that!?"
"Actually...yeah, I do." Sasuke muttered with his eyes narrowed, before he smirked, "...At this rate, it looks like this club will go down faster than I thought~"
"You PUNK-!" Naruto let loose a growl before being held back, Gaara hooking his arms through his from behind while Sai pressed his shoulders back gently.
"Naruto are you out of your mind!?" Gaara gruffed, "You can't just go around starting a fight with Sasuke Uchiha of all people-"
"Wanna bet!?" Naruto huffed, "Let me at him, I'll kick his ass!"
"HA You WISH you had a chance against me- Loser~" Sasuke smirked, "...Saseme...let's go."
"Ah...right..." Saseme sighed and bowed politely, "Thank you, Senpai...see you next time."
"Yes...See you next time, Saseme." Sai smiled.
"Later..." Naruto muttered, as Sasuke glared daggers at him while placing an arm around his sister's slender shoulders, and gently escorting her out.
"That punk ass..." Naruto muttered, " First he has the gall to talk that trash to his sister...then he goes and makes her cry...and yet he comes here and talks like THAT!?" he huffed, "Someone oughta knock him down a few pegs...!"
"...And I suggest you want to be the one to do it, Naruto?" Sai chuckled.
"Yeah as a matter of fact!" Nartuo stated, "Where does he live!? I'll go there right now! He doesn't scare me!"
"Naruto..." Gaara blinked, "You can't just roll up onto the Uchiha Estate."
"Yeah...I guess maybe I can't..." Naruto sighed...But then it dawned on him. He glanced over to Gaara... and it hit him.
"BUT..." He said softly...lips curling into a mischevious grin," ...I just so happen to know someone who can~"
Gaara blinked a few times. He shifted a few glances around him...before he came to realize that Naruto...was referring to him.
"...Heke!?"
To Be Continued...